by Public Information Officer, Friday, April 04, 2014, 16:20 (1785 days ago)

ABILENE, TX – Tuesday, April 8, 2014, from 5 to 8 p.m., Taylor County residents are invited to join community leaders and partners at the parking lot of the local H-E-B grocery store to discuss and raise awareness in the fight against child abuse. This event will highlight the L.O.C.K. Project and help educate the community about the signs and symptoms of abuse. An Abilene Fire Department ladder truck will be present with its ladder raised towards the sky to symbolize the awareness that must be “raised” if we, as a society, are to move one step closer to eradicating crimes against children. Several dignitaries in attendance will signify their commitment to this cause by boarding the ladder truck’s bucket at different times throughout the event as it is raised into the air.

Child abuse is an important matter because it affects the most innocent of all and because it produces devastation in the lives of victims. The idea in preventing child abuse is symbolized by a padlock and an associated word—L.O.C.K. This acronym means: Learn the facts; One person can make a difference; Commit to preventing child abuse and Keep our children safe!

H-E-B, located at 1345 Barrow Street, is sponsoring this event by providing free ice cream floats to those in attendance. Throughout the event, the staff of the Abilene/Taylor County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), along with other agency representatives, will be discussing a gamut of issues, solutions and myths regarding child abuse and its prevention. Children in all kinds of neighborhoods and communities are affected by abuse. Last year the CAC served 349 children and partnered with law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the District Attorney’s Office, Regional Victim Crisis Center, and Hendrick Medical Center.

The L.O.C.K. Project portion of this event symbolizes support for each victim of child abuse. Attendees will be provided an opportunity to place a blue ribbon or a padlock (both provided) on a section of chain-link fence, on display, as an expression of their support for these victims. The message from Chief of Police Stan Standridge and community partners is unified and clear: lock in safety for our children and lock out child abuse in Abilene and Taylor County! Every child deserves to be SAFE!